Workers of the center of reference specialized in social assistance: difficulties divided in the professional dialogue

Abstract

The text is part of the findings of the master's research entitled "CREAS workers: between commitment and anguish". The objective of this research was to investigate the main reasons for suffering of workers who work in the Specialized Reference Centers for Social Assistance (CREAS) in a city of Vale do Paraiba (Brazil). The influence of work on the physical and mental health of the worker is recognized, which, for many, may lead to the sickness and fatigue of the working class. In the specific case of the Social Assistance Policy, social workers, in addition to experiencing the pre-carization of working conditions, they also deal, daily, with the expression of social violence, poverty, among others. For the workers from the Specialized Social Assistance Center (CREAS) who work with families or individuals who have had their rights violated this process is even more profound. In the service units, which also follow the capitalist logic, we observed in the narratives of the social workers and psychologists interviewed the lack of professionals, a differentiated workload between social workers and psychologists, difficulty in networking, lack of resources in the units, among others. In this perspective, with the complexity of care, which involves violence, abuse, poverty and all types of vulnerabilities and the number of daily visits, many professionals are led to frustration and illness.